Valeant to sell assets to Nestle for $1.4B

LAVAL, Que. - Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. ((TSX:VRX) says it has agreed to sell the rights to five products to Nestle S.A. for $1.4 billion.

Laval, Que.-based Valeant says Nestle expects to complete its acquisition of Galderma S.A. in July and would expect to operate the acquired assets through Galderma.

The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and Valeant says it is not contingent upon a successful transaction with Botox-maker Allergan, Inc.

Valeant has made a hostile takeover offer for California-based Allergan, which fired back Tuesday by saying Valeant's growth is overstated and questioned its ability to cut US$2.7 billion of expenses if it acquires the company.

The broadside came ahead of what is expected to be an improved offer from Valeant on Wednesday.

"We are pleased to enter into this transaction," said Valeant chairman and CEO J. Michael Pearson, adding Galderma is "firmly committed to the aesthetic dermatology."

The five anti-aging skin treatments being sold by Valeant are Restylane, Perlane, Emervel, Sculptra and Dysport.